(AP) — The University of Nebraska Medical Center has announced it will offer a dual master’s degree in pharmacy and public health beginning in the fall of 2014.

The university says the new dual degree offers the academic framework for pharmacy students to acquire public health knowledge and skills.

Gary Yee, professor and associate dean in the UNMC College of Pharmacy, says the optional dual track will increase the number of graduates trained to meet the unique pharmacy and public health care needs of rural and underserved people.

The dual program allows a student to complete both degrees with fewer credit hours than needed to complete the two degrees separately.

UNMC joins five other Big Ten offering the dual degree. They are Iowa, Maryland, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Rutgers.